Article by Nathan Smith
Even with the midweek Internationals, spread bettors will already have half an eye on next weekend in anticipation of the North London derby. This will be the second time that these two huge rivals have met this season and first blood went to the Gunners as they eliminated Spurs from the Carling Cup in September.
Buyers of Arsenal’s outright Championship index will have been delighted that the Gunners moved into second place, two points behind Chelsea, following their hard-fought win at Goodison Park. Sporting Index’s traders will be aware that Arsenal have an impeccable record against their biggest rivals, having never lost at the Emirates against them in any competition. Spurs’ 2-1 victory towards the end of last season at White Hart Lane was their first in the league for a decade, which won’t offer much hope to their spread supporters. Further concern for the Lillywhites’ win index buyers is that since the Premier League came to be they have only won on six occasions against Arsenal.
Those spread bettors having a punt on the home side’s win index may have noted that Arsenal have won five of their past six home league fixtures. In contrast, Spurs’ win against Blackburn was their second in the same period which will concern supremacy spread sellers.
Supremacy buyers will have fond memories of the last time these sides met at the Emirates on an afternoon that produced three goals and a clean sheet for Arsenal. The total goal minutes make-up for that contest reached 145, but the game that will always stand out for goal minute buyers was the epic in 2009/10 where eight goals were scored – totaling 474 goal minutes.
Although usually billed as a feisty affair, Emmanuel Eboue’s dismissal in the goalless draw two seasons ago was the only red card shown during the previous 13 North London contests across all competitions. Spread enthusiasts hoping to play the bookings index on Saturday may do well to note that there were only two cards shown the last time they met in the league at the Emirates. In fact, across the two league meetings last term there were only 60 points on the bookings index.
Cesc Fabregas grabbed the decisive second against Everton and buyers of his player performance spread will be pleased to find that he scored in the 3-0 win against Spurs last term. Buyers of Arsenal’s win index will be hoping Robin van Persie will be fit enough to feature given his recent goal record against Spurs. The Dutch striker has three in his last two home league starts against Tottenham.
Total goal buyers will take encouragement that Arsenal have scored 15 in their past six home league games – averaging 2.5 per game. Further positives for goal buyers are that the last four times Tottenham have visited the Emirates there have been at least three goals scored.
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